Him/Her/Self: Gender Identities in Modern America
             The role of middle-class Victorian women is the focus of Women and the World and Women and the Home. The wives, mothers, belles and virgins' only role and purpose in this era were to dedicate their lives to the needs of their husbands and families. "A woman is nobody. A wife is everything. This was the role that Victorians assigned to the female sex; these were the boundaries of female rights." (pg. 7, Filene) This less than satisfying life style led women to seek refuge by religious practices and/or female companionships, such as women's' groups. This way of life, with no other outlets then stated above, brought about such inner turmoil, that women suffered an illness labeled "nervousness". These times were hard for women and many women started taking control over their lives by limiting sexual intercourse, which led to the reduction of STD's and high birth rates.
             This was also the beginning of labor saving devices for the home. In the making and use of modern appliances, to ease the burdens of housewives, they caused women to lose their hired-help and work long, tedious hours with no outside help. For the first time the "True Women" emerged outside the home. The long battle for equality was beginning and with it came the start of the women's suffrage movement.
             Women were leaving home and entering the world. A small percentage went off to college and started careers afterwards. Women were redefining themselves, personally and as a class. Divorce rates were increasing and the birth rate was declining. The "Crisis of Family" placed blame on the higher education of females. Of course, this threatened the ethical order of male society. This scared the male population, so in order to deter female rebellion, Congress tried to place emphasis back on the home by declaring a national holiday, " M...